〖 10 YEARS AGO 〗
♣ ♢ ♛ ♢ ♠
[ 𝗝𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ]
My phone buzzes on my desk but I ignore it, knowing it's Taehyung being annoying again. Plus, I'm in the middle of reviewing to get myself prepared before starting school tomorrow. I just really want to do well this year.
I can't believe I'm gonna be in 8th grade tomorrow and I realize it's also Jungkook's 12th birthday too. But I've stopped talking to him recently after my mother told me the truth that he's actually my half-brother.
I really can't believe it. Jeon Jungkook is my brother and our father is the great Jeon Junsu. My mother told me that she had actually told my biological father Junsu about me but he could care less.
What a fucking asshole.
My mother is struggling right now trying to provide for me and my useless of a father Jihoon. No wonder, my so-called father couldn't love me like a son because I'm not actually his blood. That makes sense why he was abusive towards my mother and I. But that's why I'm willing to work hard in school and get a proper job so one day my mother will live the life she truly deserves and hopefully a better man that will treat her better. It has become my goal and I'm determined to reach it.
My phone buzzes again, getting so annoyed now. "Ugh, what do you want Taehyung," I groan. But I finally give in and glance at my phone, only to see a flood of messages from him.
I chuckle to myself from Taehyung's crazy suggestion.
Me as an idol?
He's out of his mind. And he's forgetting Jungkook and I stopped talking.
I place my phone down and focus on my computer trying to search online if there's really are idol auditions happening.
Taehyung is actually telling the truth. I glance at my screen seeing so many big agencies that have auditions open for my age group—YG, SM and JYP.
But there's also a small company I never heard of—Big Hit Entertainment.
Hmm...now Taehyung got me thinking. Should I? Or should I just stay in school and get a proper job?
Suddenly I hear a loud commotion coming from downstairs, interrupting my thoughts.
Ugh. That bastard is probably getting pissed off again at my mother.
"Ugh, I'm so done with this shit," I mumble to myself, feeling so irritated. "My mother deserves so much better than this."
I get myself up and walk out of my room to stop them from fighting once again but as I get closer to the yelling, I realize it's my mother and another female voice that sounds so familiar to me.
I walk down the hallway and the dispute starts becoming louder and clearer. I stop at the top of the stairs but immediately freeze at the sight unfolding below me. It's Jungkook's mother—Mrs. Jeon Anna.
She's standing furiously pointing a gun right at my defenceless and tearful mother.
"P-please n-no...Anna," My mother pleads, with her eyes shaking in fear.
"I can't believe you would do this to me Yumi!" Anna sobs as she keeps her gun on my mother. "We were best friends! I trusted you and you betrayed me!"
Shock surges inside me, freezing my entire body to the point I'm hardly breathing and unable to move a single muscle.
I should go down and grab the gun before she shoots my mother.
I finally get my feet to move but I run the other way, back to my room to grab my phone with my shaking hands. I dial for the police but two loud gunshots go off making my heart and breathing stop, immediately dropping my phone onto the floor out of shock.
NO!
I quickly grab my phone from the floor and run back to the scene as my adrenaline forcefully rushes in my veins with so much emotions engulfing me whole.
I finally make it back to the top of the stairs, only to see my mother laying on the floor with blood pooling around her.
My eyes widens, not comprehending what I'm seeing. I'm only hearing my pulse beating loud in my ears, blocking out all the sounds as everything around becomes miserably slow.
"NO! EOMMA!" I cry out with tears pouring down my cheeks, running down the stairs towards her as a growing sense of dread and doom creeps inside me.
"Eomma!" I drop to the wooden floors, getting a horrible closer look of her paled body covered in blood. I instantly turn her over and her eyes is slowly flickering shut.
"A-nna..." she coughs off blood, and my eyes grow wide in a panic. "H-how c-could...you...do....t-this..t—" but suddenly my mother's eyes completely shuts and her body becomes lifeless.
"Eomma! It's me Jimin!" I wail as my grief pours out in a flood of uncontrollable tears. "Eomma! Please, don't leave me! You're my only family!" I sob louder, so gut-wrenching it feels like it's tearing through my chest. "Eomma please!"
No answer.
"Eomma..." my voice becomes so quiet as my chin trembles. The only thing I'm feeling is complete helplessness and sorrow.
Why would Jungkook's mother do this? How could she? Even if I was the son of Mr. Jeon Junsu, how could she have the heart to do this to my mother?
She's the only one I have in this life. Now I've lost her.
"This is all my fault eomma..." My body wracks into an onslaught of sobs and tears. "I couldn't protect you..."
My mother's gone and I feel like pieces of me is slowly fading away along with her.
»»««
[ 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗸𝗼𝗼𝗸'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ]
"Annyeonghaseyo!" I wave and then bow at the condo guards who have been so kind to my mother and I these past weeks she been living here.
"Annyeong, Jungkookah!" The two guards greet me back with a happy smile.
"Your mother told us it was your birthday so happy birthday!" Sangwoo the guard says. "How old are you now?"
"Thank you!" I give him a grateful smile. "I'm twelve now."
"Oh wow, almost a teen." One of them chuckles.
"Yup," I say with a proud smile. "Is my mother home by the way?"
"Yeah, she hasn't left to be honest. I don't think she went to work today since I didn't see her leave in the morning," The guard informs me. "But she's probably just tired, she looks so distraught last night when she got home around midnight."
"Oh really..." I say wistfully, feeling so bad for my mother, knowing she's been a little gloomy these past weeks. "Well, I'm gonna go now, see you later."
I go towards the empty elevator doors and press the floor that my mother has been living in ever since she and appa had been having issues and so she had decided to live here for a while. I wish I could stay here with her but appa wanted me to stay in the house for safety reasons.
Today is a school day, I should be home but appa allowed me to come visit eomma after school since it is my birthday today and I couldn't wait to celebrate with my mother. While appa has been busy doing Don duties and he's also training these hyungs named Jin and Hoseok. I think they're cool and funny, but they can get on my damn nerves as they like to tease me a lot.
I get off the elevator and walk towards the door that is surrounded by her guards. As I finally stand in-front of the door, I get a sudden rush of excitement and eagerness for what my mother has in stored for me. She said she has a surprise and wants Taehyung to be here too which he's on his way right now.
I couldn't help but smile as I swipe my card to open the door, knowing today is going to be so much fun. I finally walk inside and shut the door behind me, but I get a sudden strange feeeling. Something feels different like there's a shift in the atmosphere and this place is so eerily quiet today.
Oh wait...is it a surprise party? What if Jimin has been avoiding me all this time because he was planning this party?
I feel a surge of excitement washing over, and eagerness again with the thought of the people I love all here and waiting to yell out surprise!
"Oh they can't fool me, I'm just too smart," I chuckle to myself with the thought of pretending to be surprise and everyone jumping out. But I'll act surprise and pretend I didn't have a clue.
I start walking down to the living room, anticipating for a surprise but to my dismay...no one comes out.
I scan around the empty and ghostly quiet room. But there's really no signs of anyone even in here. I glance down in disappointment. I guess there's no suprise party for me after-all.
Maybe eomma was too stress out about the appa situation. It's okay I guess. I understand if she didn't have time to plan anything. This is all appa's fault. I blame him for everything. It's his fault eomma is like this. If I had a wife I wouldn't treat her like the way appa treated her. I promise that on my life. I would cherish my future wife and if we have kids I definitely wouldn't be a submissive father.
I just want the perfect family. And I also want more true friends other than Taehyung. But people around me tend to think I have it good, when in reality I really don't. I would do anything to just have a loving family, than being stuck in this mafia business.
To be honest, I must rather have Jimin hyung's life. Although he had stopped talking to me for some reason. I wish he was still in my life. He's like a big brother to me and that goes the same with Taehyung hyung. I don't know what I would do without those two. But now I only have Taehyung and I don't plan on ever losing him. He's the only one I could trust.
I'm just eager to see my mother and this time I plan on staying here with her despite my father's wishes. I can't live in that damn house without my mother. My mother has suffered a lot being a wife to a Don. But she takes care of me well and loves me wholeheartedly. I wouldn't be able to live without her.
The thought of my mother suddenly makes me feel incredibly grateful towards her and feeling so appreciative for all that she had done for me. Even if she didn't plan a surprise party or called me this morning to say happy birthday, I'm just happy I have a loving mother who's by my side through this crazy lifestyle of mine.
I walk up the stairs feeling joyous even if I didn't get a surprise party. I just want to see my mother and hug her and tell her how much I appreciate and love her.
I walk down to her room and slowly open her door and almost immediately my body turns completely still like a statue. My eyes zooms to her body laying on the floor with blood pooling underneath her and a gun in her hand.
I immediately run towards her but it feels like time had stood still and everything around becomes a blur. She's so pale and completely life-less.
"Eomma!" I scream out, gently shaking her to wake up. I check her pulse and find no heart beat. I try again and again while screaming her name...but nothing.
I move the side of her head that has the puddle of blood and realize she had shot herself in the head.
My eyes grow wide in shock and my heart clenches with a tight grip, feeling as if it's going to explode. "NO! EOMMA!"
I break down sobbing over her lifeless body, but part of me still isn't accepting this gruesome reality. "Eomma, I'm here now I'm going to stay with you from now on. Just please eomma wake up! Please don't leave me eomma, I need you!"
But still nothing.
My mother is truly gone.
Eomma...why would you leave me like this? You knew how much I hated this life of mine. But I have no choice. This is my life and I can't get out of it. But the only thing that's helping me prepare for the life of sin...was you, mother.
»»««
[ 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ]
I abruptly stop in my tracks taking notice of the police cars and ambulance in-front of Jungkook's mother's condo.
Damn, I hope whoever got hurt is okay. This looks pretty serious.
I glance down trying to mind my business and walk inside the lobby of the condo. I get to the elevator packed with annoying elementary kids.
It's the first day of school but Jimin didn't even fucking come. So lame. He said he was reviewing and shit but he fucking skipped today. I just wish he told me because then I would have done the same and joined him. I had to skip the idol auditions since I forgot it's Jungkook's birthday.
The elevator doors open and I walk out towards Jungkook's mother's door feeling a little excited now. It's Jungkook's 12th birthday. I got him a video game he always wanted, although I know well he could afford it.
I abruptly stop and my mouth gapes open to see paramedics and cops at the hallway of Anna eomeonim's door. I get a sudden worry, and begin to think of negative thoughts but press it down, hoping it's not true.
But my eyes grow in shock to see the door to Anna eomeonim's place is open.
Oh no...
I rush past the cops trying to get inside but one of them yell out, "Excuse me kid, but you can't go in!"
"Sir, I live here!" I quickly blurt, but I take my chance and zoom right inside before he can stop me.
What's going on?
There's more cops inside, making me feel even more overwhelmed. I glance up and realize more people in all kinds of uniforms are mainly upstairs. I barge through adults up the stairs and my heart drops to my stomach to see cops standing outside the room of Jungkook's mother.
All the sad and shocked faces is giving me a sickening feeling as I try to prepare myself before walking in.
I enter the bedroom to only see paramedics and cops all over the place. But soon my eyes spots a body covered in a white sheet being carried on a stretcher by the paramedics as it passes by me and out the door.
My eyes fills up in tears knowing who that body belongs too but as I was about to ask just to confirm, my eyes spots Jungkook at the corner of the room sitting down in a chair in disheveled heap.
I walk towards him and once he looks up at me. I could tell he cried a lot, seeing the trace of tears in his face. His eyes are swollen, gloomy and dark. It's like no soul was living in his body.
I sit beside him tearing up. I want to break down in tears but I want to remain strong for him. It's what he needs right now. I know there really isn't any words that could ever comfort him right now.
"Jungkook...I'm here for you brother." I try my best to comfort him, as I bit my lips from crying.
He doesn't look at me, as he brings up the crumpled bloody paper in his hands and next thing I know he fell to his knees and breaks down into heart-wrenching tears.
"Taehyung hyung," he sniffles, making my heart ache for him. "It was a suicide and she left this note. She was suffering a lot but...why would she leave me like this hyung? Now I feel like my life will never be the same."
»»««
[ 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ]
"Stop crying! Men don't cry especially future mob bosses!" Junsu abeonim's voice is loud and harsh. Then exhales deeply as he finally let's go of Jungkook's collar.
I stand there not knowing what to do. But I don't agree with Junsu abeonim. Jungkook is only twelve. It's okay to cry, especially losing his mother just yesterday. He needs time to grieve at-least.
It's only right Jungkook is feeling like this. But of course his father does not approve. Junsu abeonim is like a father to me but he really needs to finally start acting like one towards Jungkook—especially in this moment.
Jungkook suppresses back his tears, looking emotionless. But I could tell how much he wants to cry. I glance at him with great pity because I know how much he loved his mother. His father is being an asshole when he should be comforting his son. No wonder Jungkook ensured to always be with his mother. Anna eomeonim was so gently, caring and loving towards Jungkook.
"Crying is only for the weak and if you're going to be the Don one day, I can't have a weakling like you." Junsu abeonim's voice is low and less harsh. "Number one rule in the mob is to never show sign of weakness, remember that."
***
I walk down the quiet alleyway towards Jimin's house and open the white rusted broken gates. I want to check up on him too after Jungkook's mother had passed two days ago. But he hasn't even been texting me or attended school so I sure hope he's okay.
I knock on the door, suddenly feeling a little nervous to see Jimin to tell him what had happened to Jungkook. I didn't care if he was avoiding him. But Jungkook is in need of both us right now.
The door finally opens revealing a person that didn't seem like the Jimin I knew. But it's Jimin.
He's standing with the door slightly open and his head peeking out of the darkness. I notice dark under eyes and his eyes are swollen. He doesn't say a word but just stares out to me with no emotion on his face, just a gloomy aura surrounding him.
"Jimin," I finally say. "I've been calling you...is everything okay with you? And why do you look so emo right now?"
He looks at me expression-less, still not uttering a word.
"Jimin, I was worried about you," I sigh. "And you need to know what had happened—"
"Taehyung..." he interrupts with voice low and hoarse like he been crying for days or something.
Then all of a sudden I can see his eyes are suddenly in the brim of tears. "My mother...had..." his voice starts to break. "She had...passed."
What...
"Jeon Anna killed her on the night before the first day of school..."
"No...this can't be true..." I feel lost of words and unable to believe what he's saying.
"Why do you think Anna committed suicide the next day? Because she killed my mother. I blame this all on that bastard Jeon Junsu." He pauses for a second, as resentment with a hint of despair and sorrow grows in his swollen eyes. "And Jungkook and I...will never be friends again because I blame him too."
»»««
[ 𝗧𝗮𝗲𝗵𝘆𝘂𝗻𝗴'𝘀 𝗣𝗢𝗩 ]
I walk inside the front doors of Jungkook's home after talking to the guards that I had befriended from spending most of my time here.
It's been two months now after Jungkook's mother Anna and Jimin's mother Yumi had passed a day from each other. Jungkook has been busy lately and wouldn't tell me why. So I barely seen him these past weeks. Meanwhile Jimin has completely stopped talking to me since I said I wouldn't cut my friendship with Jungkook.
"Hello, Maria!" I greet her as she walks down the stairs.
"Hello, Taehyungie!" She smiles and bows towards me before walking off to whatever she gotta do.
I run up the stairs, eager to see Jungkook since he texted me that he needed to tell me something urgently.
I walk right into his spacious grey tone bedroom to see him with a bulletproof vest and a gun in his hand.
"Woah!" I glance at the gun then at him, feeling a sudden panic. "Look Jungkook, I'm sorry for making fun of you and teasing you about your height and your scrawny body. I promise I'll stop, just please," I drop to my knees, almost in tears fighting for my life, "I beg you, please don't shoot me. I'm still so young and I have so much dreams and I uh...I uh —"
"Bro, shut the fuck up!" He shouts, cutting me off as he places the gun down on his desk near him. "I would never shoot you. I have this gun because I've been inducted to the Jeon mafia now."
"What?" I gasp, but feeling a sense of relief that I wasn't going to get shot. "But...at twelve years old?"
"It was supposed to be when I turned sixteen but I guess appa made an exception."
"But to get inducted you need to...kill," I gulp, feeling dreadfulness in the pit of my stomach and part of me is kind of fearing him.
He looks at me with a dark expression. "Let's just say I figured out why appa and eomma have been fighting. Why my mother has been so miserable and suffering. It's none other than Mrs. Park Yumi—she's the mistress."
My eyes grow in shock. I didn't know how he knew. I was scared to tell him knowing him and Jimin were close and I had still wanted to reconcile.
"I had killed her husband in placement of her," he rasps. Then looks at me with a devilish smile I've never seen before. "Now for Mr. Park Jimin, he's just going to wait for his turn. For now I've killed his father but that's just the beginning. I'm going to inflict more pain onto him. This is all his damn mother's fault and I'm going to make sure he pays that price for her whore ass mother."
I never seen such rage in him. But I could tell there's something different about him . He's aura has changed. His eyes seems dark and sinister. He's a completely different person from the last time I've seen him.
"I'm just a soldier but one day I'll be the Don—I'll make sure of it," his eyes remains dark and scary. "Join the mob because then you can become my underboss. You're the only one I actually trust so join the Jeon mafia and let's go rule this fucking country and make it our bitch. But just make sure you don't ever betray me."